Asked by: Michael Ellis (Conservative - Northampton North)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has held with the BBC on the appearance of Major General Wasef Eriqat on BBC Arabic.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Ministerial team regularly meets with BBC leadership, including members of the Board, to discuss a range of issues.
The BBC has a duty to provide accurate and impartial news and information. In delivering that duty, the BBC is editorially and operationally independent and decisions around its editorial policies and guidelines are a matter for the BBC. Ofcom is the external independent regulator responsible for ensuring BBC coverage is duly impartial and accurate under the Broadcasting Code and BBC Charter.
The Secretary of State has repeatedly made clear that the BBC’s accuracy and impartiality is critical to viewer trust. It is particularly important when it comes to coverage of highly sensitive events, such as the terrorist acts committed in Israel on 7 October and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The Secretary of State has regularly stated that point in meetings with the BBC.
Asked by: Michael Ellis (Conservative - Northampton North)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2014, Official Report, column 142W, on embassies: Iran, what the estimated monetary value is of each of the works of art cited in that answer which is owned by the Government Art Collection.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The most recent estimated values for the works (December 2011) were as follows:
0/664 George Hayter - Queen Victoria (1819-1901) Reigned 1837-1901- oil painting - £20,000
5230 Ahmad - Fath 'Ali Shah (1797-1834) 2nd Qajar Shah of Iran – oil painting - £1,200,000
0/663 Sir Samuel Luke Fildes (after) - King Edward VII (1841-1910) Reigned 1901-10 – oil painting - £2,000
17351 Adrian Berg - Gloucester Gate, Regent's Park, June – oil painting - £10,000
13319 Cedric Morris - Tulips and Iris – oil painting - £20,000
0/661 Sir Samuel Luke Fildes (after) - King George V (1865-1936) Reigned 1910-36 – oil painting - £2,000
Asked by: Michael Ellis (Conservative - Northampton North)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will provide a detailed itemised inventory of what works of art from Government collections were on loan to the British Embassy and Residence in Tehran at the time of the riots in November 2011; and what claims for compensation for loss, damage or destruction have been made by the Government to insurers in respect of those items.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The following Government Art Collection (GAC) works of art were on display in Tehran when the British Embassy was attacked in November 2011:
0/664 George Hayter - Queen Victoria (1819-1901) Reigned 1837-1901- oil painting
5230 Ahmad - Fath 'Ali Shah (1797-1834) 2nd Qajar Shah of Iran - oil painting
0/663 Sir Samuel Luke Fildes (after) - King Edward VII (1841-1910) Reigned 1901-10 - oil painting
17351 Adrian Berg - Gloucester Gate, Regent's Park, June – oil painting
13319 Cedric Morris - Tulips and Iris - oil painting
0/661 Sir Samuel Luke Fildes (after) - King George V (1865-1936) Reigned 1910-36 - oil painting
The GAC does not – and is not permitted under Government accounting regulations – to insure its own works on a commercial basis. They are Crown Property and displayed at the Government's own risk within HMG buildings.